Update: After doing more research on spar varnish and finding the post I will refer to below, I went to my local paint store and had a long talk with the owner about my project. I decided to go with minwax semigloss clear polyurethane and I was advised to use a lambswool device to apply the poly. Then I came home and read your recent posts, Richard - and yes, product I was talking of (the spar varnish) is a quality product but after more reading I just didn't feel right about using it on this table. I also found this thread on "woodjocks" website and found the discussion leading me towards poly even more. http://lumberjocks.com/topics/2565 So, I have a applied one coat of poly with the wool device. I am not sure how I feel about this wool idea - it seems to leave lint behind? I am thinking of switching to a brush, or to disposable foam brushes for the next 3 coats. Any advice on how to proceed from here onto my last coats of poly (even just some encouragement) is appreciated. I'm not sure how I like the semigloss finish - its nice, but I hope it will be waterproof and repellant to dinner sauces, wine, etc. I am also feeling concerned about my work environment. I am working in a free standing garage and the temps are supposed to dip down into 40s this week at night. Will that be a problem in between dry coats of poly? Here is a link that might be useful: thread on spar varnish I found

Is another living room the greatest need you have in your house? Will it be for the kids to hang out in? Or a quieter adult retreat? We turned our dining room into a home office with matching desks facing each other placed in the middle of the room, so together they are about the same size as a dining table. It looks like it might be large enough to fit a modestly sized sofa in there, with a small round table with 2-4 chairs that you could use as a gaming table. Any musicians? What about a music room?

Sena I absolutely love the pantry idea. Right now our pantries are actually two closets 20" deep (I couldn't show it correctly in the planner) so that aisle is only 38" which is fine most days but when we have people over and they stand around the island it feels very crowded. I actually was planning on doing a beverage/wine fridge under the counter where the coffee bar is. When we are entertaining I thought it'd be nice to have a spot for the kids especially to grab drinks. I'm hoping to get a counter depth fridge because I really don't like how our current one stinks 9 inches into the isle. We are going to purchase a second fridge for the garage to make up for the lost space. I shop often enough that I think we'd be fine with counter depth. Do you think 33" is deep enough of an island to accommodate a sink? I love the idea of the prep sink on that wall... I just wasn't sure I'd have enough cabinets if I kept it and the window.

Read through all the posts and not wild about the size of the rug you bought. I liked the first one suggested with the blues, look for something similar. Here is my possibly radical suggestion. That corner unit draws your eye away from everything. Consider taking the door off, use spackle and touch up paint to hide the hinge holes. Then either DIY or hire someone to come in and cut off that curved top. It would be awesome if that curved top was act nailed on and easier to remove. then touch up paint anything that needs it. If you must need a door, take it to see if you can get the panes removed and a whole piece of glass replaced. And lastly, when you decided on the rug and curtains, paint the inside of the corner unit walls one of the accent color. or the same as the chest. Leave the outside of it the current color. I think the changes to that built in corner unit could go a long way with changing the look in the room. And for sure a different light fixture!